Page 19 of Cavaliere

Fifteen

WREN

Ipull the soft duvet closer to my face as I snuggle deeper into the down pillow. Inhaling deeply, I take in the warm and spicy scent of tobacco, amber, and cedarwood. The smell reminds me of Matteo.

My eyes fly open as I quickly sit up and look around.

Matteo.

Holy shit.

This isn’t my room. This room is the size of my whole entire apartment. Looking around, I take in the floor-to-ceiling windows letting in the perfect amount of light for the shade of the dark walls. It’s moody but feels homey at the same time. The combination makes you feel utterly relaxed. There are two doors off the wall to the left of me and one door off the wall straight in front of me, and there is not much decor.

“Which one do I think the bathroom is?” I mumble to myself as I throw the duvet off of me. My feet hit a fluffy, deep gray area rug that has me curling my toes in it, enjoying the way the fluff feels between them.

After finding the correct door and using the bathroom, I look at my reflection for the first time since the motel. I inhale sharply at the sight. The bruising and swelling is a million times worse than it was last night. I look exactly how I feel. Like I got the shit beat out of me. Like a flaming bag of dog shit.

I need to find some drugs, ice, makeup, and clothes asap.

Walking back into the room, I pause and look at the bed, debating whether to get back in and just sleep this nightmare away.

“You’re awake.”

Jumping slightly from being startled, my eyes shoot to the doorway, meeting Matteo, who is leaning up against it with his arms crossed. He looks tired.

“Is this your room?”

“Yes,” he answers before pushing off the doorframe, walking further into the room, and sitting on the edge of the bed, patting the spot next to him. “Sit down. We need to talk.”

All I want to do is get away from this fucking man, and he’s making it nearly impossible.

“I don’t want to talk,” I say as I don’t move from where I’m standing in the bathroom door. “I told you I just want you to forget about all of this and take me to Delaney’s. She’s probably already leading the FBI manhunt for me since I haven’t talked to her in basically a day!”

“I think she will be okay if you don’t talk to her for a day.” Matteo gives me an exasperated look.

“What would your brother do if he didn’t hear from you all day?” I ask, already knowing the answer.

“Come looking for me.” I can’t stop looking at him like he’s a dumbass as I raise my eyebrows and throw my hands out. “Okay, I get it. No need to be a smartass. I’m also not keeping your phone from you, so please, text or call away.”

I narrow my eyes because I hate that he’s right. In all honesty, I hadn’t even stopped to think about how Delaney is probably freaking the fuck out until right now.

“If we talk about what you want to talk about, then can you take me to Delaney’s?” I ask, trying to reason with him.

“No.”

“You can’t keep me here! You know kidnapping is illegal, right? You may be too attractive for your own good, but you’re not on the level of attraction where I would be a willing participant.”

“And what level do I need to be on?” Matteo asks, clearly amused.

“Michele Morrone.”

Matteo lets out a loud laugh. “You know I get confused for him sometimes, right? I get asked for autographs when I let the stubble show.” I purse my lips together to keep myself from walking right into that trap because Matteo is right. He does look like him. Especially if he stopped shaving. “Now I know you would be a willing participant, tesoro,” Matteo says, voice deepening.

“What did you want to talk about?” I clear my throat, trying not to think about what his voice does to me when he talks like that.

He smirks. I think he’s going to call me out again, but he doesn’t. I’m hoping he missed the way my eyes flared and the light heat I feel on my cheeks. “I want you to tell me exactly what happened. My brothers went by your place, they said there was a lot of blood.”

And there goes my mood.